hojacat

1 hour ago, Keithambrose said:

I didn't find Toronto expensive.  Hotels about half the price of NY. Restaurants  certainly a bit cheaper than London.  I found Restaurants  in NY horrendous!

I think this ranking mostly has to do with the price of housing in relation the average income of a given city and not the cost of visiting them as hotel prices in places like NYC, Paris and London are definitely much higher than HK or Sydney.

2 hours ago, ToTheCore said:

Both Ho-Chi-Minh and BKK were among a few select cities around the world with the most number of days this year as being miserably, excruciatingly HOT.  

Keep that in mind as you plan your travel dates.  

https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/interactive/2024/heat-index-temperatures-global-cities/

(apologies if this is under a pay-wall for some)

Luckily, both places offer ample opportunities for indoors, or better say in-room activities😄.

When in Manila two years ago I stayed at this boutique hotel right across Glorietta mall. Their guest check-in policy was a bit inconsistent. Some of the guys didn't have to check at the front desk at all, some had to leave their ID and a few times I even got a call from the reception to ask if everything was fine once the guy left. I guess it depended on the time of the day and how busy front desk was.

Didn't have to check-in any of the guys I had at this big hotel in Puerto Princessa, though the the place I stayed in El Nido had a no-guests policy. Luckily I was there only two days and kinda needed a pause after all that high-intensity activity in Manila.

Overall, I would say an Airbnb is the best option in Manila, but even in those some receptions might be stricter than others. I would choose a condo with many listings on the site, instead of  just one or two,  as the reception would assume everyone visiting is an Airbnb guest so won't ask for documentation.

6 hours ago, jeremy said:

3) M unfamiliar with the phrase "grindr is as buggy as hell". Guess it means prblmtc. Since I dont have tlgrm/X, would that b a prblm?

 

I also noted that Grindr has a lot of issues lately. With the last update my private albums disappeared and some profiles take a long time to load. Haven't had any issues with alerts or notifications though.

5 hours ago, Olddaddy said:

Because I wasn't close to the SkyTrain stations I had to use Grab to go to the other side of Manila City and grab is expensive although this is in pesos not baht 

I will stay next time closer to public transport 

Now....as I said ...I took a Thai guy with me ...if I was by myself I could of used the motorcycle 🏍️ taxis which means cheaper..and I could interact with the guys...they all speak english and touch their 🏀 🏀 

The biggest problem I encountered with Grab in Manila, when I visited there two years was not so much the price but the availability of cars.

I got the "No drivers available at the moment. retry at another time" message  quite a few times, starting from when I landed at the airport. Tried for almost 30 minutes and at the end had to get a taxi to reach my hotel in Makati. Even when I was around the city it appeared a few times. One of the Grab drivers I got said that because of Covid, the number of people doing Grab had diminished. Not sure if it was true. Hopefully, the situation is better now. It was probably the biggest nuisance when visiting Manila, but the guys made up for it😂.

On 5/18/2024 at 4:44 AM, hairybearberlin said:

Are there any suggestions or tips? 🤔

I think saunas would be your best bet. Check R3/Mania (both owned by the same guy) social sites (Twitter, FB and IG) from Monday/Tuesday of pride week.

I'm sure they will have daily foam parties on that weekend like they had on Songran and NYE/Christmas.

Both saunas have ample dark rooms and during festivities like those two dates, most of the action actually happens outside as it gets so packed with people and the number of cabins, especially in Mania is relatively low.

During Songran for example, Mania had foam parties 5 days in a row. It opened earlier than usual, I think around 2PM. By around 3 you had to wait in line to get in and the line kept getting longer and  to lasted till around 9:00PM, way after the foam party was over as you can see from my pic. amazing times!

On 4/29/2024 at 9:12 PM, Gottago said:

I spent a memorable night at Hyandae (I think) sauna in Itaewon years ago. It’s either closed or changed names now. An American soldier and I tag teamed half a dozen or more willing Korean twinks on the mattress. I’ve been back once since and it was very disappointing.

I’m in Busan now and I’ve checked out one place. It was basically 4 sleeping rooms surrounded by a corridor.  Very quiet and disappointing too.

Too be honest I’ve have had very little action since arriving back in Korea. Hardly any hits on Grindr, when in other Asian countries I would get at least some attention:)

I have a similar experience. Went to Seoul in 2010, after just finishing college and went to this sauna in Hongdae very close to the subway exit .Can't remember the name. It was actually my first gay sauna in Asia. Had read about it on utopia.com.

I remember it was decent size and the crowd was really good, many many twinks and I think there was only one more foreigner in there. I had plenty of action. What struck me was that cabins didn't have doors, just curtains so people were going in and out and sometimes turning on a lighter to see who was inside. 

It was first a nuisance but I got used to it quickly so it didn't interrupt my action. Remember also this big room with row of mattresses where people were fucking in group or just 1-1. Overall it was a great experience and I think I went at least one or two more times. I went back to Seoul in 2018 and wanted to check the sauna again. Not sure if it was the same one but it was still in Hongdae. This one though was really small and almost completely empty. Only 2 people in total. Left very quickly.

Sad to hear the ones in Itaweon are not much better. Now, a good Taiwanese friend of mine was with his bf in Seoul last month. He said they went to a place called Cuba. However, it mostly accepts only Koreans, there is even a sign at the entrance. As he can speak a bit of Korean and they are both very good looking (they work as models), they were let in but he said two Chinese guys in front of them were refused entry. He said the place is pretty small though the crowd is quite good. Most of the action happens in a big room with mattresses and people prefer group play. He also suggested another place called "He's" but need to ask if he went there and how was it.

On 4/29/2024 at 9:12 PM, Gottago said:

I’m in Busan now and I’ve checked out one place. It was basically 4 sleeping rooms surrounded by a corridor.  Very quiet and disappointing too.

 

Was in Busan in October of 2019 for 6 days. Overall I enjoyed the city but the hookup experience was kinda poor. Only 3 guys, one of which was actually an American teaching English there. A bit surprising for me as I got really busy on apps in Seoul and also quite successful with Koreans around Asia or the US, even though personally they are not in my top 3. Didn't check the sauna, as the reviews were really poor. Glad I haven't missed anything.

Last week in Japan, I hooked up with a guy from Busan. He also agreed that for a country with such strong sauna culture, SK really lacks good gay saunas. I guess Korea continues to be very conservative.

On 5/11/2024 at 8:59 PM, Shax said:

Thanks for the info everyone.

I am on HeeSay and I've used the explore function to check out the profiles around where I will be staying. I did notice that there are a lot more twink bottoms in that area. Is that generally the case in HCM? If I'm more into hunky tops, any recommendations of massage places to go?

I will definitely checkout Nadams too, and thanks @Moses for the info on the rates. Appreciate it a lot.

The cruising area (or the labyrinth as Moses calls it) is actually small compared to other gay saunas in Asia and it gets pretty congested. The cabins are of different sizes, so there is also group action going on in the bigger ones. The only caveat with them: they are no mattresses, only a bolster pillow. It's true that they have a wooden floor but I still recommend doing everything standing up , otherwise you might actually need a Really good massage after playing in there.

My favorite is the upper-most floor which is pretty much one big dark room (albeit a bit too dark).

2 hours ago, Olddaddy said:

I have decided I'm going to Vietnam first time this Sunday 

Now I don't understand this E visa situation, I must have a visa ?

There's that many links if I google,what is the official link ?

It all depends on what your citizenship. some European citizens can enter Vietnam without the need of a visa. if you're Australian as your location indicate, then yes you need to apply for an eVisa.  This is the official portal to apply from: https://evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn/khai-thi-thuc-dien-tu/cap-thi-thuc-dien-tu

Keep in mind that once you apply and get approved, you have a printed copy of the visa when you travel as they will ask for it at the airport.

2 hours ago, bkkmfj2648 said:

Hi Shax,

I was in Da Nang for 12 days last month and the number one app for meeting guys was the HeeSay (formerly BLUED) app.

The ratio of available guys when compared to Grindr was 200% more found in the HeeSay app.

The Hornet app had hardly any people posting.

Good luck and enjoy

Would definitely agree that HeeSay is the app to use in Vietnam. way way more guys in there than on Gridr, both for free or MBs.

Actually, during my current trip I got to meet two hot Viet twinks both in HK and Japan through HeeSay.

Would suggest getting the premium version as it has a very high amount of ads. Has a few options for premium, but overall is pretty affordable.

On 4/18/2024 at 7:04 AM, Keithambrose said:

This does seem to be an issue. I have come across this a few times.  I am distinctly average, and also get, oh you are Big! Or, too broad, etc. It seems to be a bit of a mindset in Japan,  perhaps to avoid bottoming,  though I have always managed to have fun there!

I'm visiting Sapporo right now and from all the different trips I've had in Japan, I would say that even though some guys would call big an average size for Europe or the Americas (similar experience to a lesser degree also in Taiwan, HK and Singapore) it has the highest number of size queens I've encountered in Asia, especially on apps like Grindr which are used mostly by guys looking for westerners as locals mostly utilize 9monsters.

Another thing about this escort services (not sure if it has been mentioned in this topic) is that to the best of my knowledge all of them have a strict "condoms-only" policy, so that might be a bit of a turn off for some. 

On 3/19/2024 at 3:18 AM, young11 said:

Sweatbox was a bit underwhelming during my recent visit. It was Saturday night so I expected it to be packed or people lining up but that was not the case. It was a bit crowded but not like 400 people. There were very few hot guys, though it was very diverse. Also guys don't do actions as much as my recent experience in Lisbon. They were not hostile or anything, actually most guys are friendly in their manner but very limited actions. Also there is a very tiny area that is a maze or dark room but everyone can see who is going in and out and most attractive ones do not go into that area 😂

I am quite interested in checking out the other one but after my experience in sweatbox I am not that thrilled 

400 guys were at SBN, not Sweatbox. Now, I don't know how many guys go to that party on a normal weekend as it was pride Sunday when I went there and I think that definitely attracts a bigger crowd than usual. I mean even at Sweatbox, I had to wait for around 30 minutes to get in when I went there on Pride Saturday night at around 10:30PM. It's just that I found the crowd to be just so-so, even though they were kinda friendly and as you mention, the cruising area at Sweatbox is definitely too small. 

Going again to London this year for pride and just wondering if Pleasuredome would be a better choice on Saturday night.

On 3/11/2024 at 4:34 PM, Keithambrose said:

OK. I haven't been to either, yet! SBN sounds interesting,  but I think I am too old! Perhaps  I should take a young friend!

Because the crowd was quite large in there, you could find from barely legal twinks to guys that were definitely in their early or mid 70s so don't let age be a blocker if you want to go there. I agree though that bringing a younger guy that enjoys performing in front of you would make the experience much better.

1 hour ago, Keithambrose said:

Pleasuredrome, or SBN?

I guess he meant SBN since I said they were giving free Viagra + poppers at the entrance. 

Wasn't it downgraded from 2 to 1 star Michelin in the last publication?

Personally, I found the food there just so-so, nothing exceptional and can see why they lost one star and for example Gaa gained one more and now has 2 stars. Probably the best Indian food I've had, including some famous places in India.

On 3/9/2024 at 12:50 PM, Firestarter said:

Well being London it's very diverse. Though definitely fit and attractive guys gets to picked up first. I hooked up with a Saudian with a very upper class english accent and a Singaporean guy. 

Do you know if it's better/bigger than SweatBox in Soho? I was in London last June during pride week and since staying in Soho, I opted for Sweatbox. Went there twice. On a Thursday (young people's night) and Saturday. Found the sauna not that big and not as many twinks, especially Asian ones, as I was hoping considering it's right next to Chinatown. There was a long line at the entrance though on Saturday at around 11:00PM.

The highlight in London and what I recommend when in there is to go to the SBN&NBN naked party on Sunday afternoons. Not sure if it was because of the pride, but there might have been around 400 guys in there, so you could find any kind of age/body type/race that you wanted. They were even offering free poppers and Viagra at the entrance so pretty much everyone was walking around rock hard😂 It's also close to Waterloo station area.

On 3/5/2024 at 11:48 AM, vinapu said:

there's retirement home on via Guido Rossa not far from Royal Hammam

Royal Hammam is also the most popular with Asian twinks (Milan has one of the biggest Chinatowns in Europe and actually Hu is the most common last name in Millan) so it's definitely the place I go to when in Milan. Recommend Sunday afternoons. 

On 2/3/2024 at 1:41 AM, vinapu said:

I was there just 2 weeks ago I  both Siem Reap and Phnom Penh and can tell with certainty that neither hotel.i was staying made any fuss about visitors. 

Even when one arrived on motorbike and requested a kep to the gated parking area they gave it to him without aby question for him or me. Big chain hotels may be stricter but as everywhere else visitors issue largely depends on property and in fact on staff on duty at given moment.

OK Boitique , OK Palace and Saravoan Palace hotels are your sure bets in Phnom Penh with bonus of being close to attractions and all 4 gay bars on existence I know of.

Thanks @vinapu So guests don't really need to check-in at any given time? How easy is get a GRAB in PP?

Also, any sauna you recommend? A thai friend of mine said there is a good one. I'll have to ask him for the name of it.

On 1/30/2024 at 10:27 AM, Lucky said:

@PeterRS is off the hook! The breakfast at the Courtyard was tops. In Bangkok, Le Meridien still has the best breakfast. I stayed at the Sukhothai a few nights and found their buffet breakfast to be good but not Le Meridien good.

Did you go to any gay venue in Taipei? How did you like it compared to Bangkok?

My last and only visit to Cambodia (PP and Siam Reap) dates back to 2009, while I was still in college.

In Phnom Penh, I remember staying at this small hotel at an area with lots of embassies around. As apps were still not available I ended up not meeting anyone.

Since I'll go back to Thailand for around 2 weeks during Songran's season, I'm thinking of stopping to PP for 4-5 days. Just wondering what' guest policy do hotels have in there?

Is it pretty lax (so no check-in required, guest can come over anytime of the day and night) like they do in Thailand or is it much stricter (check-in required, no guests after a certain hour) like they do in Vietnam?

If so do you guys recommend an Airbnb (like I definitely do for Vietnam)? Any difference between a small hotel or a bigger one from an international chain?

On 2/14/2019 at 10:32 AM, rand32 said:

It is already discussed"http://www.gaythailand.com/forums/topic/11734-craigslist-removed-personal-ads-from-their-sites/"]CL personal ads closing, this thread on old domain[/URL], I was curious to ask you (those who used) after almost 1 year of closing, what are your alternatives (if you find anything close to CL for finding partners.)

I will start, combined I am using :

1) Various hookup sites 2) Pure and Tinder apps and 3) few forums like for example Kik Sexting forum.

So I would like to hear what you tried after closing CL personals and what gives you some results? Also, you can share sites/services/forums/whatever that are just wasting a time.

CL was my main resource for sex during my college years in the late 2000s. it was CL and Adam4Adam. Even with the advent of apps CL remained the best and easier place to look for or set up any 3+/groups action. Most apps, especially Grindr make it almost impossible to have a multi-people conversation. They even took out their Group Chat capability lately. Luckily, at least in the US, sniffies.com has come to be very useful for that kind of activity.

I tried using CL on my first trip to Southeast Asia in 2009. I guess I didn't do my homework to find out which were actually the best options online for that region. The place I got any lucky with it was Singapore. Still remember meeting this cute Malay Singaporean I contacted on CL. Had to take both mrt and bus to get to his place. Quite the endeavor at a time when I didn't have Google Maps on my phone. Sex was good but he kinda freaked out when offering me poppers. I didn't know their legal status in Singapore and just had heard how strict are they about drugs. His answer to the question if poppers are legal in Singapore: Who cares?!\

The only other place in Asia I got a considerable activity through CL was Seoul the year after my trip SEA. Remember there pretty much no posts on CL in Taipei in the same period.

13 hours ago, floridarob said:

I use ATM's, with a bank that "absorbs" or refunds conversion fees/charges.

Capital One and Charles Schwab are always good for that.

Same here. Recommended if from the States.

19 hours ago, PeterRS said:

Never visited Cruise and with a few exceptions basically gave up the SIngapore sauna scene after Rairua closed. Keybox is definitely the most popular now with all nationalities. There are memberships but only for Singaporeans. Visitors must pay the S$22 entry every time. Shogun sauna iis cheaper but the age range of patrons seems generally much higher.

Out of curiosity went to the Singapore forum to check if anyone had reviewed any sauna there. The only one I can find dates 2012 and mentions a certain Queen Resort sauna, which looks like closed around 2014. Definitely Singapore's gay saunas have short shell life. @KeithambroseDon't be surprised if Keybox is not there when you get to Singapore😂, but if you manage to go please write a review on this site. I'll do the same if I get to visit. This site lacks reviews for saunas that are not located in Thailand, maybe with the exception of Taipei since a few us have visited Soi13 and have written about.

On 12/9/2023 at 7:03 AM, PeterRS said:

I had a favourite sauna in Singapore named Rairua. It opened in 2002 and was out of the city centre. Like Babylon, it was very well decorated and laid out. It introduced SIngapore's first nude nights. These became so popular that other Singapore saunas had adopted the theme within a year. The clients tended to be better off, cute young Singaporeans - very few foreigners like me! Then virutally without warning it closed its doors in 2006.  Now that building happens to be the Singapore branch of the gay Pulse Clinic which started in Bangkok!

Singapore saunas though have the tendency to close a bit abruptly, even when they are popular. I used to go to Singapore every 2-3 years and the popular sauna they recommended you to go to would change every time. Haven't been there in 7 years. Remembered that last time the place to go to was called "Cruise" sauna. You actually had to register to get in and get a pass with your ID number in it. I think I still have it somewhere. Saturdays used to fully packed and if I'm not mistaken it was naked night. Not sure if any of you guys went there. Looks like it closed around 2019-2020. Planning to go again in a few months and now the most popular one seems to be Keybox. Anyone has been there? Anyway, maybe I should post this under the Singapore thread so as not to go off-topic.

2 hours ago, PeterRS said:

I could bore readers with endless photos of from China visits. Let me just say that Chengdu is a great city for gay visitors. Apart from its obvious sights, including the amazing huge panda reserve just outside the city and the Giant Buddha at Leshan, it has a few gay bars. When I was there the apps were absolutely humming. In fact, I couldn't keep up. One cute guy just would not give up and I had to squeee him in (or I squeezed into him 😵) on my last morning before I had to check out at midday. Not one wanted even transport money. Perhaps one reason is Chengdu is the 5th largest city in China with the metropolitan area having nearly 10 million citizens and a catchment area of around 14 million. It also has well over 20 major universities - that's a lot of sexy, hungry, cute young guys!

Chengdu is actually known in China as a very gay city, much more than other cities of similar size. Plus, there is a joke among Chinese that everyone coming from Chengdu has to be a bottom.

23 minutes ago, PeterRS said:

Isn't prostitution in one or other of its forms one of the reasons many gay guys visit Thailand? We all know that tips for offing from bars aren't tips; they are just fees for prostitution! Was Sunee's reputation for prostitution any different from Soi Twilight's? 

My point was that Pattaya being known JUST as a place for prostitution and old people going there to consume it made it much less appealing to a younger crowd who would much more go to Bangkok, Phuket, Pangan, Samui, Chiang Mai then there. This in turn made it much more difficult for the bars to attract new customers.

I guess we all agree that go-go bars in Pattaya overextended during their golden years and didn't adapt to the new realities of the gay scene and the tourism in Thailand. Hence, the unavoidable decline.